Frost a Contender at National Western Stock Show Rodeo

DENVER – While the 2016 rodeo season started last October, the winter building rodeos starting with the National Western Stock Show here traditionally kick off the year.

The buildings offer big prize money and opportunities to jump into the world standings. If a contestant wins here, it gives them a chance to build momentum and stay among the top 15 in the world standings who qualify for rodeo’s championsips, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) held in Las Vegas in December.

A cowboy that knows that well is Joe Frost from Randlett, Utah. Two years ago, he won the bull riding title at another building rodeo in Fort Worth, Texas, qualified for the NFR and finished second in the world standings. He competed at the NFR again last year and finished the season in sixth place.

The cousin of the late world champion bull rider Lane Frost is looking to add a gold buckle of his own to the families collection. He has started off the new year very well here in Denver and is one of three men to have ridden two bulls.

Frost competed in the first round on Sunday night scoring 87 points on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Broadway Joe. That is currently in a tie for first place with Bart Miller from Pleasanton, Neb. Then at the Monday matinee performance Frost came back and rode another bull from Mo Betta named Red Power and while that isn’t likely to place in the round, it put him second in the overall standings with a total score of 162 points.

Cody Campbell, from Summerville, Ore., leads the bull riding in the Denver Coliseum with a total score of 167.5 points. Colorado’s own Josh Koschel from Nunn is in third place with 159 points. Koschel has just returned to action after sustaining a broken leg during the Greeley (Colo.) Independence Stampede last July.

All three of these men are likely to qualify for the U.S. Bank Championship Finals on Sunday, Jan. 24. A win here could mean a big boost to their bank account as well as an opportunity to move into the world standings. Denver’s rodeo features nearly half a million dollars in prize money and is one of the most prestigious on the circuit. The National Western Stock Show is in its 110th year and with that history comes a legacy of promoting and preserving the Western lifestyle.

Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association action continues in the Denver Coliseum on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The following are unofficial results from the National Western Stock Show Rodeo sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.